• home
  • about me
  • PR Info

mapsgirl.ca

mapping our life's journey

  • Car Seat Info
    • Rear Facing
    • Forward Facing
    • Booster Seats
    • Front Seat
  • Life
    • body mind spirit
    • faith hope love
    • parenting
  • Recipes
  • Travel
    • RVing
    • Camping
    • Vacation
  • Features
    • monday mumbers
    • 10tuesday
    • wordless wednesday
    • Thank You Thursdays
    • Thursday 13
    • Other Great Blogs
  • Reviews
    • Auto Reviews
  • Shop
You are here: Home / 2014 / Archives for January 2014

Archives for January 2014

Comfort food: Chicken & Sweet Potato recipe #ChickenDotCa

January 29, 2014 by Wendy S

I’m a Brand Ambassador!Chicken Farmer - Brand Ambassador

I’m very excited to be have been selected to be a Chicken Farmers of Canada Brand Ambassador for 2014!  The past 2 years have been amazing and now that the Chicken Farmers have teamed up with SJ Consulting the fun will continue!

As in past years, I’ll be sharing everything chicken — chicken recipes, chicken safety information, chicken contests and more chicken!  It really is a perfect fit since we eat so much chicken already.

Focus on Health

One of the things that I really love about the Chicken Farmers of Canada is how focused they are on health — health of their chickens and health of their consumers!  They have a whole section on their website dedicated to “Health”!  The article on “Tips for Making Better Choices” has really helped me since I started on my journey to a better me. Understanding what I’m putting in my body is key to staying healthy!

Finding Healthy Choices

The Chicken Farmers have thought of everything!  Since they have so many amazing recipes listed on their site, the “Advanced Search” makes find recipes so easy.  You can search by ingredients and you can narrow your search by different types of recipes depending on your nutritional focus: Gluten Free, Diabetic Friendly, High Fibre, Lower Sugar, Lower Carbs, Lower Fat, Lower Sodium, Lower Calories.  

Chicken.ca Advanced Search

Did you know chickens can tweet?

Chicken Farmers of Canada are very active on social media.  They share a weekly recipe on Tuesdays and a contest on Wednesday!  There will be twitter parties too!

Follow them on twitter — @chickenfarmers

Like them on Facebook — Canadian Chicken

 

A little something to warm you up — Chicken and Sweet Potatoes

Chicken and Sweet Potatoes

To start the year off right, I’m sharing a healthy, easy chicken recipe that will be loved by everyone!

It’s a short list of ingredients:

2 tablespoons whole-grain or Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme or 2 teaspoons dried
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
1 1/2-2 pounds boneless skinless chicken
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 large onion, cut into 1-inch wedges

And in just a few steps, you’ve got a great meal!

Directions:

  1. Position rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 450°F. Place a large rimmed baking sheet in the oven to preheat.
  2. Combine mustard, thyme, 1 tablespoon oil and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a small bowl; spread the mixture evenly on chicken.Chicken and Sweet Potatoes
  3. Toss sweet potatoes and onion in a bowl with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven and spread the vegetables on it. Place the chicken on top of the vegetables.Chicken and Sweet PotatoesChicken and Sweet Potatoes
  4. Return the pan to the oven and roast, stirring the vegetables once halfway through, until the vegetables are tender and beginning to brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into a chicken thigh registers 165°F, 30 to 35 minutes.Chicken and Sweet Potatoes
Roast Chicken & Sweet Potatoes
2014-01-29 18:40:24
Serves 4
Caramelized sweet potatoes and onion are the bed for chicken thighs that cook up fast in a very hot oven—perfect for a quick healthy chicken dinner.
Write a review
Save Recipe
Print
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
30 min
Total Time
45 min
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
30 min
Total Time
45 min
Ingredients
  1. 2 tablespoons whole-grain or Dijon mustard
  2. 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme or 2 teaspoons dried
  3. 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  4. 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
  5. 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
  6. 1 1/2-2 pounds boneless skinless chicken
  7. 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
  8. 1 large onion, cut into 1-inch wedges
Instructions
  1. Position rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 450°F. Place a large rimmed baking sheet in the oven to preheat.
  2. Combine mustard, thyme, 1 tablespoon oil and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a small bowl; spread the mixture evenly on chicken.
  3. Toss sweet potatoes and onion in a bowl with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven and spread the vegetables on it. Place the chicken on top of the vegetables.
  4. Return the pan to the oven and roast, stirring the vegetables once halfway through, until the vegetables are tender and beginning to brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into a chicken thigh registers 165°F, 30 to 35 minutes.
NUTRITION
  1. Per serving: 408 calories; 17 g fat ( 4 g sat , 9 g mono ); 86 mg cholesterol; 34 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 27 g protein; 5 g fiber; 554 mg sodium; 636 mg potassium.
By Wendy
mapsgirl.ca https://www.mapsgirl.ca/

Disclosure: I am participating in the Chicken Farmers of Canada campaign managed by SJ Consulting . I received compensation in exchange for my participation in this campaign. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Filed Under: Ambassador, Chicken Farmers, food, Recipes Tagged With: chicken, healthy, recipe

#FordNAIAS Day 3: #Mustang Redesign Process and #Flex test drive

January 28, 2014 by Wendy S

Tuesday morning was our third and final day at #FordNAIAS .  We were up early, packed and checked out of our rooms before our 9am breakfast.  We would all be heading home after our morning of activities.

We headed over to the Dearborn Inn for some “behind the scenes” sessions to learn more about Ford, their process, their technologies and their style.

First #FordNAIAS Session: “Big Data”

As a cartographer and GIS Analyst, I deal with a lot of data all day long.  Going in I was very excited to hear how Ford uses data analysis.  The session didn’t quite live up to my expectations.  I was hoping for a deep analytical conversation about databases and data collection process, but this conversation was much more high level and generalized.  

FordNAIAS Big Data FordNAIAS Big Data FordNAIAS Big Data

John Grinder – Manager, Systems Analysis
Michael Cavaretta – Technical Leaders, Data Science
John Viera – Director, Sustainability & Vehicle Environmental Matters
Sheryl Connolly – Futurist

It was nice to see Sheryl Connolly again. I first heard her speak at ShesConnected.

FordNAIAS Big Data

Second #FordNAIAS Session: The re-design of the 2015 Ford Mustang

Inside Sketches

FordNAIAS 2015 Mustang Redesign

Sketches become digital

FordNAIAS 2015 Mustang Redesign

FordNAIAS 2015 Mustang Redesign

Clay Models are crafted and 3D printed parts are designed

It was really hard to believe that it was all clay.

FordNAIAS 2015 Mustang Redesign

Fabrics and interior details are chosen 

FordNAIAS 2015 Mustang Redesign

Fabrics and details are added to the model

FordNAIAS 2015 Mustang Redesign

 Exterior SketchesFordNAIAS 2015 Mustang Redesign

FordNAIAS 2015 Mustang Redesign

Exterior Clay Model is crafted

Watching the modeller work with this tools to define the lines and curves of the Mustang was amazing. A true artist!

FordNAIAS 2015 Mustang Redesign

Exterior Model is built

Once the clay model is ready, 3D photographs are taken and the clay model becomes digital.  From the digital designs, the prototypes are created.

FordNAIAS 2015 Mustang Redesign

This one was a hollow plastic shell.

FordNAIAS 2015 Mustang Redesign

Exterior Paints are chosen

There are 10 colours that customers can choose from for the 2015 Mustang: 

  • Race Red
  • Competition Orange
  • Triple Yellow
  • Deep Impact Blue
  • Ruby Red
  • Black
  • Magnetic
  • Guard
  • Ingot Silver
  • Oxford White

FordNAIAS 2015 Mustang Redesign

Prototype is built 

FordNAIAS 2015 Mustang Redesign

FordNAIAS 2015 Mustang Redesign

From Clay to Model to Prototype

FordNAIAS 2015 Mustang Redesign

FordNAIAS 2015 Mustang Redesign

FordNAIAS 2015 Mustang Redesign

FordNAIAS 2015 Mustang Redesign

It truly was an amazing experience to talk with the designers to hear about the re-design process for the 2015 Mustang.  They all had passion and excitement about their work and you just knew that they had the heritage and love for Ford in their hearts.

Read more on the FordConnect page — Inside the Ford Design Studio

Time to drive!!

We all had a chance to drive a new Ford vehicle.  On Day One they had us fill out a little questionnaire to decide which vehicle we’d be driving.  I was chosen to drive the Ford Flex.  I had driven the Flex before so I knew what to expect, but seeing different sights around Detroit was very fun!

FordNAIAS Test Drive

FordNAIAS Test Drive

FordNAIAS Test Drive

FordNAIAS Test Drive

FordNAIAS Test Drive

This totally set the tone for my drive!

FordNAIAS Test Drive

First stop: Comerica Park — Home of the Detroit Tigers 

FordNAIAS Test Drive

FordNAIAS Test Drive

FordNAIAS Test Drive

FordNAIAS Test Drive

We ran into some friends!

We drove by Ford World Headquarters

FordNAIAS Test Drive

 

Time to go home

After a great lunch at the Dearborn Inn, we headed back to the hotel to pick up our luggage. After a bit of a wait, we went to the airport to make our way back to Toronto!

 

FordNAIAS Going Home

FordNAIAS Going Home

FordNAIAS Going Home

FordNAIAS Going Home

FordNAIAS Going Home

The plane’s propeller outside my window

FordNAIAS Going Home

Can you see Ford Canada Headquarters?

FordNAIAS Going Home

Bonjour!

Thank you to everyone who made #FordNAIAS spectacular!

Thanks to my new Canadian blogging friends.  It was only a few fun-filled days together, but I feel that I’ve made friends for life!

Thanks to Ford Canada’s Social Media Team — Mike Ellis, Craig Silva and Anson Dixon.  Thanks for bringing all of these great bloggers together!

A huge thank you to Ford Canada for inviting me on this amazing trip!  

Thanks to the Ford US team for making the whole FordNAIAS experience beyond my imagination!  The things that I saw and learned will be with me forever!

 


 #FordNAIAS posts:

Before FordNAIAS

Day 1

Day 2


Disclosure: Ford Motor Company paid for my transportation, accommodations and food. I was not compensated for my time. I was not asked to write blog posts or promote the show or the experience on social media. I did this on my own. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Filed Under: auto reviews, FordNAIAS, Products & Reviews, Travel Tagged With: auto, ford, Ford Canada, Ford Motor Company

Toothless { Wordless Wednesday }

January 28, 2014 by Wendy S

Wordless Wednesday

She’s missing all 4 front teeth!!

 


Share your Wordless Wednesday posts!



Filed Under: wordless wednesday Tagged With: peanut, teeth

#FordNAIAS Day 2: F-150, Mustang, Behind the Blue Oval Room and so much more!

January 28, 2014 by Wendy S

Our second day at #FordNAIAS  started very, very early, Monday morning.  We were finished breakfast and on the bus heading to Joe Louis Arena by 6:45 am. 

Why so early?

Ford Press Conference and reveal of the new 2015 Ford F-150

The Ford Press Conference was at 8:10 am.  Due to a broken down vehicle on the highway, it was a mad dash to the arena, but we arrived just in time to see this:

 After the Press Conference

All of the media people got to go down to the floor for a closer look

After the Press Conference FordNAIAS

2015 Ford F-150 Platinum FordNAIAS

2015 Ford F-150 FordNAIAS

After the Press Conference all of the bloggers had access to Ford’s Behind the Blue Oval room and the full Auto Show!

 Upon entering “Behind the Blue Oval”, there were different displays showcasing some of the research and ideas behind the Ford vehicles.

The New F-150

 FordNAIAS All New F-150

FordNAIAS All New F-150

Ford Edge Concept

FordNAIAS Edge Concept

FordNAIAS Edge Concept

The All-New 2015 Ford Mustang

FordNAIAS 2015 Ford Mustang

Mustang featured in the Need for Speed movie

  FordNAIAS Need for Speed Mustang

FordNAIAS Need for Speed Mustang

FordNAIAS Need for Speed Mustang   FordNAIAS Need for Speed Mustang

FordNAIAS Need for Speed Mustang

FordNAIAS Need for Speed Mustang

FordNAIAS Need for Speed Mustang

FordNAIAS Need for Speed Mustang with @AskMamaMOE

Hanging out in the Need for Speed Mustang with @AskMamaMOE

 

Ford Police Interceptor

FordNAIAS Police Interceptor

IMG_9105

FordNAIAS Police Interceptor

Ford Mustang Pool Table

  FordNAIAS Mustang Pool Table

Ford’s Green Technology

FordNAIAS Coca-Cola PlantBottle Technology

FordNAIAS Coca-Cola PlantBottle Technology  FordNAIAS

FordNAIAS

FordNAIAS

FordNAIAS 1.0 Ecoboost Engine

FordNAIAS Solar Power

FordNAIAS Solar Power C-Max  FordNAIAS Solar Power

More Ford Technology and Innovations

FordNAIAS Carbon Fiber Wheels

  FordNAIAS 3D Printing

FordNAIAS 3D Printing

NASCAR Ford F-150

  FordNAIAS F-150 NASCAR

FordNAIAS F-150 NASCAR

FordNAIAS F-150 NASCAR

Visual Performance Evaluation Lab

They use special lighting to see how the vehicle reacts in different lighting conditions and what the experience for the driver and passengers will be like.

  FordNAIAS Visual Performance

FordNAIAS Visual Performance

  Clay ModelingFordNAIAS Clay Modeling

FordNAIAS Clay Modeling

Ford Hot Wheels

IMG_9150

IMG_9152

On a big media screen, they were showing the social media buzz from the #FordNAIAS hashtag, check out Behind The Blue Oval!

Talking with CEO Alan Mulally and COO Mark Fields

Ford really gave the bloggers a unique experience!

We go to talk with www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HdlFm_c5TQ.  I taped the discussion, and even got to ask a question myself!

During our conversation with Mark Fields, COO, he expressed how important bloggers and social media influencers are to Ford and getting Ford’s message out as well as hearing feed back from the customers.

Ford COO Mark Fields

Photo op with Scott Monty

FordNAIAS Scott Monty

FordNAIAS Ford & Ford Canada Social Media

Mark Ellis, Scott Monty, Craig Silva

 

#FordNAIAS at #NAIAS

 After spending some time learning about the new technology and vehicles, I headed out to the Auto Show floor to see what else was going on.  I was blow away at the display that Ford put on!

 FordNAIAS NAIAS

IMG_9256

IMG_9255

FordNAIAS Auto Show

All the new Trucks!

FordNAIAS Trucks

FordNAIAS Trucks

FordNAIAS Trucks

FordNAIAS Trucks

FordNAIAS Trucks

The New F-150

FordNAIAS New F-150

FordNAIAS Trucks

FordNAIAS New F-150

Ford Tremor and Raptor

FordNAIAS 2015 F-150 Tremor

FordNAIAS 2015 F-150 Tremor

FordNAIAS F-150 Raptor

FordNAIAS F-150 Raptor

FordNAIAS F-150 Raptor

Celebrating the Mustangs 50th Anniversary

Ford had an amazing display of all things Mustang to celebrate the 50th Anniversary!

FordNAIAS Mustang 50th Anniversary

FordNAIAS 1965 Mustang

1965 Mustang

FordNAIAS Mustang 50th Anniversary

FordNAIAS Mustang 50th Anniversary

FordNAIAS Mustang 50th Anniversary

  FordNAIAS Mustang 50th Anniversary

FordNAIAS Mustang 50th Anniversary

FordNAIAS Mustang 50th Anniversary

FordNAIAS Custom Magazine creation

Custom Mustang magazine cover with YOU on it!

 More Ford Vehicles

FordNAIAS Taurus

Ford Taurus

FordNAIAS Fusion

Fusion

FordNAIAS Fiesta

Fiesta

Behind the Blue Oval Diner

 At the end of the day, all of the bloggers were invited to the “Behind the Blue Oval” room to have dinner and get a sneak peek of the Need for Speed movie.

FordNAIAS Behind the Blue Oval Dinner

Craig playing the Need for Speed video game

FordNAIAS Behind the Blue Oval Dinner

FordNAIAS Behind the Blue Oval Dinner

Cute BTL appitizers

FordNAIAS Need for Speed Sneak Peek

Need for Speed preview

FordNAIAS Need for Speed Sneak Peek

Interview with the Need for Speed director and lead actor

FordNAIAS Need for Speed Sneak Peek

FordNAIAS Need for Speed Sneak Peek

 

Relaxing back at the Hotel

After a long, full day, the Canadian bloggers sat down and reflected on all they saw.

FordNAIAS Canadian Bloggers

Now if you thought that was full day, wait until you read what we did on Day #3!!


 #FordNAIAS posts:

Before FordNAIAS

Day 1

Day 3


Disclosure: Ford Motor Company paid for my transportation, accommodations and food. I was not compensated for my time. I was not asked to write blog posts or promote the show or the experience on social media. I did this on my own. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Filed Under: auto reviews, FordNAIAS, Products & Reviews, Travel Tagged With: ford, Ford Canada, Ford Motor Company, FordNAIAS, NAIAS

SNEAK PEEK of Disney’s Maleficent features New Lana Del Rey Song #Maleficent

January 27, 2014 by Wendy S

I am really looking forward to the release of this movie!! The idea of a Disney movie told from the side of the evil villain will be awesome!!

Maleficent

A never-before-heard Lana Del Rey rendition of “Once Upon a Dream” was unveiled as part of a 90-second sneak peek of Disney’s “Maleficent” during the 56th Annual Grammy Awards® on Sunday, January 26. “Maleficent” releases in theatres on May 30, 2014.

Award-winning, American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey has recorded a unique reimagining of the renowned fairy-tale tune from Disney’s classic animated film “Sleeping Beauty,” which will feature in the end credits of the upcoming Disney film.

View the Sneak Peek here:

“Maleficent” explores the untold story of Disney’s most iconic villain from the classic “Sleeping Beauty” and the elements of her betrayal that ultimately turn her pure heart to stone. Driven by revenge and a fierce desire to protect the moors over which she presides, Maleficent cruelly places an irrevocable curse upon the human king’s newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Aurora is caught in the middle of the seething conflict between the forest kingdom she has grown to love and the human kingdom that holds her legacy. Maleficent realizes that Aurora may hold the key to peace in the land and is forced to take drastic actions that will change both worlds forever.

The film stars Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple and Lesley Manville.

“Maleficent” is produced by Joe Roth and directed by Robert Stromberg, with Angelina Jolie, Don Hahn, Palak Patel, Matt Smith and Sarah Bradshaw serving as executive producers. Linda Woolverton wrote the screenplay. “Maleficent” opens in theatres on May 30, 2014.

For more information, check out Disney.com/Maleficent

Like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/DisneyMaleficent and use the official hashtag #Maleficent.

 

Filed Under: Products & Reviews Tagged With: disney, sponsored

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • Next Page »

Follow MapsGirl On…

mapsgirl@gmail.com

Why “mapsgirl” ?

Wendy is a cartographer! She draws maps!

When not mapping, Wendy is also a mom to two daughters. They are the inspiration of this blog. Passionate about child passenger safety, Wendy was a certified Car Seat Technician in Ontario, Canada from 2008 to 2020. [Read More …]

Subscribe

Top Posts

  • What to do with a used, expired or damaged car seat
  • Registering for baby? Not all Safety Items are actually safe
  • Understanding MyFitnessPal: Goals, exercise and calories
  • Advance Auto Parts presents Monster Jam in Toronto! [closed]
  • Review of Life of Pi and Blu-ray G!veaway
Get Sponsored by Big Brands
Emoji Labels are Now Available at Mabel's Labels
January 2014
S M T W T F S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Dec   Feb »

Ambassador & Affiliate



PTPA Blogaholic   


Copyright © 2021 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in